Warren Con actors offered $460,000 in grants

Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts students were offered more than $460,000 in scholarships at the Michigan State Thespian Festival held earlier this school year on the campus of Saginaw Valley University.

The festival was attended by 800 students from 35 schools across Michigan. It featured competitive events, scholarship auditions, workshops and play presentations.

Brian Walmsley, assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum for WCS, said the school district’s Thespian Troupe is an award winning, nationally recognized program that specializes in all aspects of theater performance and production on the campus of Sterling Heights High School located on 15 Mile Road west of Schoenherr Road.

Walmsley said all classes are offered as part of the regular high school curriculum and open to student from Sterling Heights, Cousino and Warren Mott high schools as well as school of choice students. Students take part in dance, design and dramatic criticism, stage combat, Shakespeare and sound effects.

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In addition to daily classes with the assigned teaching staff, students also are exposed to visiting professionals, guest faculty, university workshops, field trips, theater organizations and scholarship opportunities.

The students and staff produce four major productions each year in the district’s 800-seat Performing Arts Center next to Sterling Heights High School.

Admission to the program, Walmsley said, is based on an application and audition in the spring of each year. Admission information and applications will be available at all middle school counseling centers beginning in early March.